Written Answers Friday 13 May 2005

Scottish Executive

Freedom of Information

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will designate the operator of the new private prison at Addiewell as a public authority under section 5 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 for the purpose of the act.

Ms Margaret Curran: Ministers are considering a number of issues relating to this matter. I will write to the member as soon as a conclusion has been reached.

Planning

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to strengthening the powers of planning enforcement officers.

Johann Lamont: Planning enforcement has a vital role in ensuring public confidence in the planning system as a whole. Under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, planning authorities have primary responsibility for enforcement and the act provides a range of enforcement powers to address breaches of planning control. Guidance issued by the Scottish Executive emphasises the importance attached by the Executive to effective enforcement of planning control.

  The Executive is committed, under the Partnership Agreement, to consider improving the planning system in Scotland. In order to meet its commitments under the agreement, the Executive is reviewing the planning process, including planning enforcement.

  It is our aim to publish a white paper before the parliamentary summer recess, setting out in detail our proposed reforms which will include proposals for strengthening planning enforcement.

Social Inclusion

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when its last Social Inclusion Research Bulletin was published.

Malcolm Chisholm: The most recent Social Inclusion Research Bulletin was published on 31 March 2005 on the Scottish Executive website. It can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/03/3183430/34329.